Give social networks fake details, advises Whitehall web security official

According to BBC , a senior government official has advised internet users to give fake details to websites in order to protect their personal security. He asked users to give accurate personal details only to trusted sites like official government ones . Personal information posted on social networking sites can be used by criminals against you . They can use your details to pretend to be you

Andy Smith, an internet security chief at the Cabinet Office, said people should only give accurate details to trusted sites such as government ones.
He said names and addresses posted on social networking sites "can be used against you" by criminals.
His advice was described by Labour MP Helen Goodman as "totally outrageous".
Ms Goodman, shadow culture minister, told BBC News: "This is the kind of behaviour that, in the end, promotes crime.
"It is exactly what we don't want. We want more security online. It's anonymity which facilitates cyber-bullying, the abuse of children.
"I was genuinely shocked that a public official could say such a thing."

LINK

Back in the 90ies when I started to discover the interwebz, there was one thing crystal clear to even tho most IT challenged person out there: DO NOT ENTER PERSONAL DATA INTO ANYTHING ON THE INTERNET.

That was the golden rule, these were the times of IRC and 56k Modems.

I miss the old days.

-Snivels-

reply to post by UltraMarine


I am not a Senior Government Official, but I can give better advice.


Do not give any details whatsoever, to any Social Networking Site.

He asked users to give accurate personal details only to trusted sites like official government ones . Personal information posted on social networking sites can be used by criminals against you .

Damn that is the best phrase I've seen in a few daze.

I'm not laughing at you op I'm laughing at the irony.

I love the thread thanx!

The info. posted on those sites can be used by the government criminals.

You guys don't use your real identity on the internet.........do you?
Maybe on a couple sites like banking or to pay bills but on social sites? I don't know I don't even have a FB or twitter account.

ATS is as close as I come to 'social networking'.

Originally posted by cavalryscout

He asked users to give accurate personal details only to trusted sites like official government ones . Personal information posted on social networking sites can be used by criminals against you .

Damn that is the best phrase I've seen in a few daze.

I'm not laughing at you op I'm laughing at the irony.

I love the thread thanx!

The info. posted on those sites can be used by the government criminals.

You guys don't use your real identity on the internet.........do you?
Maybe on a couple sites like banking or to pay bills but on social sites? I don't know I don't even have a FB or twitter account.

ATS is as close as I come to 'social networking'.

edit on 26-10-2012 by cavalryscout because: (no reason given)

I understand what you are saying , . I don;t use FB and Twitter too

Originally posted by H1ght3chHippie
That was the golden rule, these were the times of IRC and 56k Modems.

I miss the old days.

-Snivels-

Simple. Just switch to Comcast and you'll feel like you went back decades.